Veterinary Wellness Blog
Spaying and Neutering-What is it and Why do it?
July 3, 2012A neuter, or castration, is a surgical procedure in male pets where both testicles are removed. A spay, or ovariohysterectomy (OHE), is a surgical procedure in female pets where both ovaries and the uterus are removed. There are many benefits to having your pet spayed or neutered including both health and behavior benefits. These include: Neutered and spayed pets are less territorial and are less likely to roam. Research indicates that 80% of dogs hit by cars are non-neutered males. Spayed females typically stay healthier and live longer. They have a lower incidence of mammary tumors (breast cancer) and no uterine or ovarian cancers. Neutered pets can’t develop testicular tumors, which are the second most common cancer in males, and they also have a lower incidence of prostate cancer. Dogs spayed before their first heat cycle have a less than 1% risk of developing mammary tumors, dogs spayed after 1 heat cycle have an 8% risk (or about 1 in 10 will develop a tumor), and dogs spayed after 2 heat cycles have a 26% risk of developing mammary tumors (or about 1 in 4). Unspayed females have a 7 times higher risk of developing mammary tumors than their spayed counterparts. Mammary tumors are the most common tumors in female dogs, and are […]
Read PostTravel, and Fireworks, and Storms, Oh My!
June 4, 2012Summer may mean warmth, sunshine, and spending more time outdoors, but it can also bring more things that can cause anxiety in our pets. Things such as car rides or airplane flights for family vacations, fireworks, or thunderstorms may all cause our pet to become stressed. Signs of anxiety can include: Hiding Drooling Shaking Barking, whining, howling or other vocalizations Licking excessively Urinating or defecating inappropriately Scratching/digging, chewing, or other destructive behavior Pets can pick up on our anxiety as well, so even if you aren’t currently traveling, if you are stressing over travel plans, your pet may be more anxious. Also, pets can sense things such as change in atmospheric pressure and may know a storm is coming long before you do! Lastly, our pet’s sense of hearing is much better than ours, so they may notice fireworks or thunder that we just cannot hear. If your pet has anxiety in any of these situations, we can help. There is a medication we are using in dogs to help with situational anxiety. Also, if your pet is an overall anxious animal, there are medications we can use on a daily basis to help alleviate their anxiety. Calls us today to set up an appointment to discuss if this is right for your pet […]
Read PostHot weather, hay fever, hot spots….
May 21, 2012Ah-choo! Yup, you guessed it, allergy season is here again. Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system. Immune cells release histamines, which can cause inflammation in the body, usually in the skin, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, or respiratory tract. This leads to secondary issues such as ear infections, skin infections, fungal (yeast) and bacterial infections, pyoderma, hot spots, anal gland issues, sneezing, runny eyes, breathing issues, or vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases hives or even anaphylactic shock can occur. Signs of allergies can include: Asthma problems Runny eyes or nose and sneezing Itching and scratching Licking and chewing, especially of feet, flanks, or tail areas Redness of skin Ear infections-odor, discharge, or redness in ears Skin infections which may present as open sores, pimples, red bumps, dry skin, scabs, and crusts Pets can be allergic to a number of things, which usually fall into the categories of fleas, environment, and food. Examples of environmental allergens can include pollens, dust mites, and molds, and examples of food allergens can include meat, grains, and dairy ingredients. There are many things we can do to help you and your pet manage their allergies including: Treat for fleas-even if not seen, they may be contributing to the problem A food elimination trial-feeding a special diet with […]
Read PostProviding the best possible veterinary care for your pet.
Heritage Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinarian clinic that provides examinations, diagnostic services, dental care, surgical services, medicine, grooming and boarding services in Maple Grove, Minnesota. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of pet care possible and facilitating an environment where client communication and education are at the forefront of our practice.
Categories
Schedule an
Appointment Today!
12624 Base Lake Road
Maple Grove, MN 55369
Mon-Fri: 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Sat: 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.